The Essential Guide to Choosing the Right Fire-Rated Pedestals for Your Next Construction

The world of construction is continuously evolving, with new technologies, materials, and regulations shaping how we design and build structures. One such development is the emergence of fire-rated pedestals, which have become an integral part of modern construction, particularly in the UK. This comprehensive guide aims to provide you with all the essential knowledge about fire-rated pedestals, helping you make an informed decision for your next construction project.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Evolution of Fire-Rated Pedestals
3. Key Characteristics of Fire-Rated Pedestals
4. Classifications of Fire-Rated Pedestals
5. Fixings and Connectors for Fire-Rated Pedestals
6. Additional Advantages of Fire-Rated Pedestals
7. Non-Combustible Fire-Rated Pedestals
8. Specific Features of Fire-Rated Pedestals
9. Significance of Fire-Rated Pedestals in Decking Applications
10. Wallbarn’s MetalPad EX: A Class Above
11. Understanding Fire Ratings: A1 and A2
12. Conclusion

Introduction

In response to evolving fire safety regulations, the construction industry has seen the rise of fire-rated pedestals. These pedestals offer a robust and versatile solution for decking, paving, and other fire-rated substrates.

Evolution of Fire-Rated Pedestals

As the industry pioneers, Wallbarn released MetalPad EX, a Class A fire-rated system that represents a significant leap in fire safety. This external pedestal flooring solution complies with the latest UK building regulations.

Key Characteristics of Fire-Rated Pedestals

Wallbarn’s MetalPad EX stands out with its strength, lightness, and adjustability. It provides a low build-up starting at 40mm, offering versatility that has been in high demand from architects and contractors.

Classifications of Fire-Rated Pedestals

The Class A fire-rated pedestals serve a critical role in the UK construction industry, meeting the new ‘Approved Document B’ – Building Regulations for England. This innovation has been driven by an increasing number of specification briefs that include fire-rating requirements.

Fixings and Connectors for Fire-Rated Pedestals

These fire-rated systems come with various fixings and connectors that allow for different rail heights to be installed on the same project. These include straight, right-angled, and 45° angled brackets and connectors, which facilitate easy and fast fitting to all rails where cross-brace frameworks are required.

Additional Advantages of Fire-Rated Pedestals

Besides providing a Class A non-combustible fixing system for decking, these pedestals offer numerous other benefits. For example, the paving lug headpiece ensures a tight fit and uniform spacing between tiles, while the starter/end plate is ideal for end-of-runs and maintaining consistent gaps around the perimeter.

Non-Combustible Fire-Rated Pedestals

Beyond Class A, Wallbarn’s MetalPad EX is a Class A1 fire-rated paving pedestal. These non-combustible, fully adjustable pedestals are specifically designed for high-rise balconies, terraces, and flat roofs. They offer a range of benefits, including compliance with British Standard BS 8579 and a weight tolerance of over 2 tonnes per pedestal.

Specific Features of Fire-Rated Pedestals

These pedestals are made from 100% Class A1 thick galvanised steel and contain no plastic or rubber components. They offer millimetre-precise height adjustment, a self-levelling headpiece, and a range of bespoke headpieces for paving and decking.

Significance of Fire-Rated Pedestals in Decking Applications

In terms of decking applications, these pedestals play a vital role. The click-deck headpiece is made from stainless steel, designed to hold a ledged-profile aluminium joist. This headpiece is coated with RAL 7016 powder-coated paint to prevent any reaction between the steel and aluminium joist. A secure fixing between the pedestal head and joist means no additional mechanical fixings are required.

Wallbarn’s MetalPad EX: A Class Above

Wallbarn’s MetalPad EX range has been developed in response to changes in building fire safety legislation. It offers a safe and fully compliant solution for contractors and installers requiring Class A non-combustible build-ups to support balcony paving and decking systems. The adjustable pedestals are supported by a range of headpiece and connection components, making it a versatile and installer-friendly solution.

Understanding Fire Ratings: A1 and A2

The government’s official guide to rules on fire safety – Approved Document B – defines products achieving an A1 classification as non-combustible and products achieving an A2 classification as being of limited combustibility. A-class products – those classified A1 and A2 – make no significant contribution to fire growth, while products with a rating of B-F are classified as combustible.

Conclusion

In conclusion, fire-rated pedestals have become a vital part of the UK construction industry. They offer a solution that complies with the latest fire safety regulations. Their versatility, strength, and innovation make them a critical component in paving and decking applications. Their role is set to grow even more significantly as the industry continues to evolve.

Related Products

There are various related products that complement the use of fire-rated pedestals. These include the Minipad, Universal, Accessories, Fire-Rated, Mega Balance, and Rail system.

Contact Information

For more information or to place an order, you can contact the team on 020 8916 2222 or send an email to sales@wallbarn.com. Alternatively, you can fill in the form on the contact page of their website.